, 1887-08-25
The U. s. Marine Hospital.

fFS"@AN -Ab1@N AAANNLCS1 ASAN4EES DGtu
created in the management of the
Marine Hospital, owing to gossip ad-
verse to DR.. Devan, surgeon in charge,
in reference to permitting religious
or charitable work among the pa
tients, funeral sermons, &c, and de-
string that DR.. Devan might have an
opportunity to express himself fully,
the editor of this paper addressed
him letter of inquiry, eliciting the
following reply:
Mr.. ALLEN WEIR:-Dear Sir: I
have pleasure in acknowledging the
! receipt by yesterdays mail of your
note dated Aug. II, 1887. The scope
of your inquiry covers too extended
ground for me to hope to give you q
satisfactory reply in all details. Al
though the comment you request
would scarcely y appear gracious under
the circumstances, allow me in con-
tining myself as closely as may be to
the points directly questioned, to ex-
press my qualification at any interest
that may have attached itself to the
matter referred to, even If it be as
you state-"but the interest arising
from discussion" If it were not for
the implication to be gathered from
my reply to your inquiry as to what
is my customary reception of religious
and other charitable work offered the
Hospital beneficiaries, the irony would
be worthy of comment for its very
purity. Three years ago last June
basket Of newspapers and periodicals
was given Us. Since then until this
morning) no reading matter, with the
rare exception of the occasional send
ing of one or two papers, has been
received; in fact, no interest of this
variety has been evidenced practically
by any other save by the ''Seamen's
Bethel of Portland, Oregon. OF
other charitable work two ladies'
strangers, eIl route for Alaska-visited
Us once, holding prayer and praise
meeting" in our wards. Flowers have
been kindly sent for distribution
among the sick once-last Easter
Monday. Does the irony become
apparent in view of this entirety of
basis for stating my customary reeep-
ton of charitable offering for the sick
in this Hospital for the past three
years?
You specifically request informa-
ton OF the conducting of funeral GER
emonies. For these services, which
have been without an EXCEPTIONAL case
regularly held, and for religious at
tention to those requesting, and to all
my i'll, we are deeply indebted to the
unfailing courtesy, kindness and gen
erosity of the resident clergy.
Finally, you ask what is my policy
in permitting religious or charitable {.
work x + in the Hospital"
Permit me, sir, this one comment:
This is the first time such an inquiry
having any suggestion of practical
desire has been directed to me, Partly
because in all other Hospitals of my
acquaintance this character work has
always been on a regularly working
basis, and partly-please note the
basis of irony In your first inquiry.
In the event that the discussion you
allude to us resulting in the interest
prompting the character of your note
should develop into desire for activity
l should be pleased to profess my
'poliey," otherwise it would or might
seem unwarrantably gratuitous. Ii
there were no higher foundation for
''policy," professional observation in
all Hospitals has led those in charge
to note the decided and general phys
ical benefits affecting patients as the
result of such attentions. Allow me,
not only upon this but upon founda-
tions of higher leYel-the levels of
humanity and Christiany as weli-to
suggest the ''policy" you wish formu
lated. The question of mere consent
and courteous reception of person
or of persons bandedifor this purpose
il is not necessary to answer. What
ever cf actual assistance IN this work
1 can render in the event of request
being directed to me will depend en-
tirely upon the conyenlences ard pos
sibilities at my command and upon
the peculiarities in the nature of the
proposed visit 1t will suffice to state
that no trouble or inconvenience will
be considered, especially if any pro-
posed work of this nature be upon a
regular and systematic basis. The
only condition affecting this position
refers to interference with the actual
and necessary carrying on of the de-
tail work, and more generally the
care and discipline of the Hospital,
In conclusion please allow me to
state that the purport of this reply
would be decidedly misconstrued If
it were supposed to convey any actual
request for attention of this charitable
character While l have no official
warrant for my statement, observa-
ton leads me to remark that this
service would scarcely invite obliga-
tions that it could not, as in this case,
offer tangible and adequate return.
Its policy" as far as observation
allows me to personally interpret it,
offers freely legitimate opportunity
for this character of charitable atten-
ton, under the sole condition already
mentioned. and whatever may be
practicable through my personal ef-
forts CT authority legitimately re-
quested, may be freely called upon
for any such religious or other chari-
table work for the benefit of sick at
this Hospital. have the honor to be,
/ Yours very respectfully,
SPENCER e. DEVAN,
L. S. Marine Hospital.
Port Townsend. Aug. Is, 1887.
On TI,,,rS,1uv u unaatjDU of tho Rna rd